Some old reliable September friends have made themselves evident recently – the morning glories are winding in profusion, the datura is making its first peek, chubby bubby squirrel popped in for a nosh and talk about the epitome of a ‘dinner plate’ dahlia!

Regardless of the genre of adornment - Fins, Feathers, Wings, Petals or Legs – there is an immutably perfect niche for all visitors to our Coconut Island in the Sky this month.

As we revel in the first sort of real monsoon season that Joshua and I can remember, bunches of new stuff are happening. The crotons and begonias in our two big flower boxes are bursting at the seams.

Our hot and dry August 2026 has the one UPSIDE of attracting a wide menagerie of our local critters each night. While the leftovers are surely a draw, I wager the watering hole is more important to everyone’s wellbeing.

Of the nearly incalculable blessings, magic, and FUN we enjoy at The Surgeon’s House, serving duck eggs, homemade goat cheese and goat yoghurt rank pretty stinking high. They take a second only to knowing the two couples who are responsible for these fine creatures and the delicious fruits of their husbandry.

Just a couple of days ago I was lamenting to Joshua that we had not seen any raccoon families this year then lo and behold, the camera was ‘incorrectly aimed’ so that we enjoyed the following happy surprise!

Even in our normal gardening routine, we occasionally meet with a “what’s that?” moment but none has surpassed this swiss chard root passing itself off as a multi-headed mutant of some kind. Look at the size of this beast. It was a veggie root so we investigated the possibility of cooking it but we couldn’t even cut it!

With summer in full swing, we have all sorts of outside happenings and visitors. The Capt. came across a rather UNinvited visitor who joined recently for coffee on his porch – even loving mostly ALL aspects of the Earth Mother, these guys give me the creeps. He departed into lake Ludwig for an eternal swim.

Well, surprise of all surprises. We have been suspecting that Mr. Skunk had set up housekeeping under the honey shack but little did we know he has been up to more than just housekeeping. We definitely have a Mrs. and either 3 or 4 babies!

As planned, Joshua showed up right at 5 a.m. at Tara and Lyle’s to make his attempt to relocate the colony in their water meter. We always move honeybees before daylight or after sunset when the largest number – hopefully all – of the folks will be back in their home for the night.